Right front axle install tip

[ahlem]

As I was inventing new words trying to install the right front axle on my 2001 X5 3.0 I came up with a solution that may help someone else.
I read a couple other threads that had various solutions that didn't work for me. I had the shaft going back into the differential but stalled out about 1/2" from seating properly. I tried beating on a wood block and various other tapping and rotating to no avail. I had greased up the splines but just couldn't get things to go in properly.
I took my 8" Harbor Freight 3 Jaw puller, put the floor jack under the hub and leveled the axle as best I could and slowly applied force to the axle end.
I had the two big bolts that hold the strut on to keep things in place. With a modest amount of persuasion, the axle shaft finally slid into it's proper place. When I did this, I had pulled the dust shield that surrounds the center of the hub off it's press fit location. I used a long punch through the lug bolt holes and carefully re-seated it. Everything is put back ogether and will get a test drive this evening.